Color Contact Lenses

Colored contact lenses allow you to change your eye color and create a look that's subtle, bold or anywhere in between — whether you want to enhance your everyday look or rock a crazy design for Halloween and other special occasions.

Plano color contacts are worn purely for cosmetic purposes to change your eye color and have no lens power for vision correction.

The cost of colored contacts can be significantly more than for regular contacts; but for many wearers, the ability to change their eye color is well worth it.

Some people prefer a dramatic transformation, while others are happier with a more subtle eye color change. Which type of person are you? (For a close-up slide show, please click on the image.)

Types of Color Contacts

Most colored contact lenses are designed to mimic the natural look of the colored part of the eye, called the iris.

Since this area is made up of colorful shapes and lines, some color contacts feature a series of tiny colored dots and radially arranged colored lines and shapes to help the lenses look more natural on the eye.

The center of the lens, the part that lies over your pupil, is clear so you can see.

Color contacts come in three kinds of tints:

Visibility tint. This usually is a light blue or green tint added to a lens, just to help you see it better during insertion and removal, or if you drop it. Visibility tints are relatively faint and do not affect your eye color.

Enhancement tint. This is a solid but translucent (see-through) tint that is a little darker than a visibility tint. As the name implies, an enhancement tint is meant to enhance the natural color of your eyes. Colored contacts with this type of tint usually are best for people who have light-colored eyes and want to make their eye color more intense.

Opaque tint. This is a non-transparent tint that can change your eye color completely. If you have dark eyes, you'll need this type of color contact lens to change your eye color.

Costume or theatrical contact lenses also fall into the category of opaque color tints. Long used in the movies (examples are The Man Who Fell to Earth, Avatar and the Twilight series), these special-effect contact lenses are now widely available for novelty use.

You can temporarily transform yourself into an alien, gothic or vampire, to name a few. You can even wear the same type of contacts used in Twilight!

Choosing the Right Color

The contact lens color that will suit you best depends on numerous factors, such as your hair color and skin tone. But, ultimately, it depends on the kind of look you want to achieve — subtle and natural-looking or dramatic and daring.

Color contacts for light eyes. If you want to change your appearance but in a more subtle way, you may want to choose an enhancement tint that defines the edges of your iris and deepens your natural color.

And if you want to experiment with a different eye color while still looking natural, you might choose contact lenses in gray or green, for example, if your natural eye color is blue.

If you're after a dramatic new look that everyone notices immediately, those with naturally light-colored eyes and a cool complexion with blue-red undertones might choose a warm-toned contact lens such as light brown.

Color contacts for dark eyes. Opaque colored tints are the best choice if you have dark eyes. For a natural-looking change, try a lighter honey brown or hazel colored lens.

But if you really want to stand out from the crowd, opt for contact lenses in vivid colors, such as blue, green or violet. And if your skin is dark, bright-colored lenses can create a show-stopping new look.

Summer 2018 — Amethyst, True Sapphire and Turquoise are three beautiful new colors you can try in the Air Optix Colors contact lens collection.

Want to try more colors? Air Optix is making it easier by launching two-count packs. The packs are available with and without vision correction, so just about everyone can try different colors for full- or part-time wear.

Ask your eye care practitioner about the new Gemstone colors and two-count packs, and have more fun with your eye color! — L.S.

Custom Tinted Contact Lenses

If you're after a truly individualized look, some contact lens manufacturers specialize in creating custom color tints for both prescription and non-prescription contact lenses.

Custom-made tints are created from a variety of colors in varying densities. Customized color lenses typically are semi-translucent, creating a natural-looking appearance. They can even camouflage a congenital eye defect or eye injury, or mimic the appearance of a healthy pupil.

Custom-tinted contacts aren't just for cosmetic reasons. Color tints are increasingly popular among professional athletes to increase their visual performance.

Key benefits of "sport tint" contact lenses are reduced glare, enhanced contrast sensitivity and heightened depth perception. A green tint, for example, can enable a tennis player to see the ball more clearly on the court.

Color Contacts: What You Need to Know

Although there are different-sized lenses to fit most wearers, there will be some occasions (such as during blinking) where the colored portion may slide somewhat over the pupil. This creates a less-than-natural appearance, particularly when wearing opaque color contacts.

Also, the size of your pupil is constantly changing to accommodate varying light conditions — so sometimes, like at night, your pupil may be larger than the clear center of the lens. In these instances, your vision may be affected slightly.

Are Color Contact Lenses Safe?

Yes, colored contact lenses are safe — as long as your contacts are properly prescribed, used and cared for.

It's essential that you visit your eye care professional for a proper contact lens fitting. This will ensure your colored contacts are safe and comfortable and look natural on your eye.

If you wear colored contacts only on special occasions, daily disposables are a great option.

Do You Need a Prescription for Color Contact Lenses?

Yes, you need a contact lens prescription to purchase colored contacts legally in the United States. This is true even for plano color lenses that don't have prescriptive power and are worn for cosmetic purposes only.

Watch this video on colored and special-effect contact lenses used in the movies.

In the U.S., all contact lenses are classified as medical devices by the FDA. All contact lenses, worn for any purpose, require a valid contact lens prescription written by a qualified eye care professional and cannot be sold to consumers without one.

If you see color contact lenses being sold in a flea market, it's likely that the vendors are breaking the law.

Other illegal sales of cosmetic contact lenses have been discovered in gas stations, beauty salons and novelty shops.

Always ensure you're buying contact lenses from a legitimate source; the health and safety of your eyes is not something to play around with!

Color Contacts Do's and Don'ts

DON'T share your contact lenses. As fun as it may sound, never swap colors with your friends. Contact lenses are medical devices and are fitted to the specifications of each individual's eyes. Exchanging lenses also can transmit harmful bacteria, which can lead to a serious, vision-threatening eye infection.DO care for your contact lenses properly. Color contacts, like clear contact lenses, must be properly cleaned, disinfected and stored with appropriate lens care products to avoid contamination. And don't forget to replace your lenses according to your eye care professional's instructions.

DON'T wear your contacts if you develop sore, irritated or red eyes. This may be a symptom of a contact lens-related eye infection or other serious problem. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you experience discomfort during or after contact lens wear.

DO have fun with your new look! Whether you want to enhance your facial features or create a dramatic statement, colored contacts allow you to have the eye color you've always wanted.

Color contact lenses continue to grow in popularity, and there is an ever-widening variety of colors and effects to choose from. With the help of your eye care practitioner, you can find a colored contact that's comfortable to wear and best suits your personality and desired appearance.

About the Author: Aimee Rodrigues has many years of editorial experience in consumer publishing, with an emphasis on the health, pharmaceutical and beauty fields. Previously she was the executive editor for this website and wrote articles on eye conditions, sunglasses and other topics.